Traction Control/Active Handling.....
Race Director
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,222
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From: Norfolk VA
TC/AH can make up for bad driving, but it won't overcome the laws of physics, so be safe out there.
01vetteC5, a trained, skilled driver a trained driver will beat a computer everytime. people can anticipate changes, the computer can only react. Since you asked the question, i would think that you should leave the computer on. If you are at the drag strip, run it in competition mode (if you've got active handeling) so you can spin the tires and still have the computer there to help you out if you get sideways.
01vetteC5, a trained, skilled driver a trained driver will beat a computer everytime. people can anticipate changes, the computer can only react. Since you asked the question, i would think that you should leave the computer on. If you are at the drag strip, run it in competition mode (if you've got active handeling) so you can spin the tires and still have the computer there to help you out if you get sideways.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2003
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I've had a few opportunities to "witness" AH do it's thing (nothing major, just a little tweaking here and there).
.....but I know for sure I would have crashed Sunday afternoon if AH had been off.
The thing is, I really didn't get on it that hard. The back end just started around to one side as I was taking a slight curve (about 65 or 70 MPH), I stayed on the accelerator (about two thirds throttle), kept the wheel parallel to the road, and the car just straightened itself right out and kept pulling. The fella in the car behind me stuck his arm out the window and gave me a thumbs up. I had only been about 10 miles at that point so the tires may have still been cold. TP was 28 to 29 PSI at all 4's.
.....but I know for sure I would have crashed Sunday afternoon if AH had been off.
The thing is, I really didn't get on it that hard. The back end just started around to one side as I was taking a slight curve (about 65 or 70 MPH), I stayed on the accelerator (about two thirds throttle), kept the wheel parallel to the road, and the car just straightened itself right out and kept pulling. The fella in the car behind me stuck his arm out the window and gave me a thumbs up. I had only been about 10 miles at that point so the tires may have still been cold. TP was 28 to 29 PSI at all 4's.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Hayward (Bay Area) CA
Originally Posted by Lancer033
TC/AH can make up for bad driving, but it won't overcome the laws of physics, so be safe out there.
01vetteC5, a trained, skilled driver a trained driver will beat a computer everytime. people can anticipate changes, the computer can only react. Since you asked the question, i would think that you should leave the computer on. If you are at the drag strip, run it in competition mode (if you've got active handeling) so you can spin the tires and still have the computer there to help you out if you get sideways.
01vetteC5, a trained, skilled driver a trained driver will beat a computer everytime. people can anticipate changes, the computer can only react. Since you asked the question, i would think that you should leave the computer on. If you are at the drag strip, run it in competition mode (if you've got active handeling) so you can spin the tires and still have the computer there to help you out if you get sideways.
Thanks in advance..
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
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Originally Posted by Vette_Fan
Anyone knows how we get into the "Competition Mode", on a A4??? I only have one buttion on the console. If I turn it off, the Active Handeling and Traction control both turn off..???
Thanks in advance..
Thanks in advance..
Yep, hold your t/c button down for 5 seconds and it will give you the "competition mode" on the DIC.
I only drive in comp mode anymore, I don't like the traction control but the a/h is AWESOME!!!!!
Last edited by lvvette777; Mar 22, 2005 at 12:31 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 215
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From: Granbury TX
I went to the local grocery store tonight to do a little drifting practice, but the cops were in the neighborhood 
Oh well, guess i'll have to try again tomorrow.
I have been wanting to do some powersliding with the AH on and off to see the difference.
I'm gonna be getting new tires soon so i might as well have a little fun between now and then.
Oh well, guess i'll have to try again tomorrow.
I have been wanting to do some powersliding with the AH on and off to see the difference.
I'm gonna be getting new tires soon so i might as well have a little fun between now and then.
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Originally Posted by TriStar
......is a wonderful feature on our cars, and that's all I have to say about that?
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I dont like it, and turn it off all together when driving hard.
When I expect the car to do something(get sideways around a hard corner, etc.) and AH/TC kicks in and stops it from doing what I expected it to do, it can be more frightening than the actual controlled loss of traction. Sometimes you need that controlled loss of traction to balance the car during aggressive driving. Sometimes drifting through a corner is the fastest way through that corner, AH/TC doesn't like that.
I think better drivers may find it a hinderance to performance driving. On the other hand, less experienced drivers and drivers of all skill levels can benefit from the systems during poor weather/driving conditions.
I guess it has it strengths and weaknesses. All I can say is that I am glad it is switchable.
AZC5
P.S. My first vette did not have AH or TC, I learned how to drive hard without them. Maybe thats why I dont care for them too much.
When I expect the car to do something(get sideways around a hard corner, etc.) and AH/TC kicks in and stops it from doing what I expected it to do, it can be more frightening than the actual controlled loss of traction. Sometimes you need that controlled loss of traction to balance the car during aggressive driving. Sometimes drifting through a corner is the fastest way through that corner, AH/TC doesn't like that.
I think better drivers may find it a hinderance to performance driving. On the other hand, less experienced drivers and drivers of all skill levels can benefit from the systems during poor weather/driving conditions.
I guess it has it strengths and weaknesses. All I can say is that I am glad it is switchable.
AZC5
P.S. My first vette did not have AH or TC, I learned how to drive hard without them. Maybe thats why I dont care for them too much.
Last edited by CORTVET; Mar 22, 2005 at 08:14 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,347
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From: Slidell La
Rolling or stopped
Originally Posted by lvvette777
Yep, hold your t/c button down for 5 seconds and it will give you the "competition mode" on the DIC.!!!!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 866
Likes: 5
From: Jensen Beach FL
Originally Posted by AZC5
I dont like it, and turn it off all together when driving hard.
When I expect the car to do something(get sideways around a hard corner, etc.) and AH/TC kicks in and stops it from doing what I expected it to do, it can be more frightening than the actual controlled loss of traction. Sometimes you need that controlled loss of traction to balance the car during aggressive driving. Sometimes drifting through a corner is the fastest way through that corner, AH/TC doesn't like that.
I think better drivers may find it a hinderance to performance driving. On the other hand, less experienced drivers and drivers of all skill levels can benefit from the systems during poor weather/driving conditions.
I guess it has it strengths and weaknesses. All I can say is that I am glad it is switchable.
AZC5
P.S. My first vette did not have AH or TC, I learned how to drive hard without them. Maybe thats why I dont care for them too much.
When I expect the car to do something(get sideways around a hard corner, etc.) and AH/TC kicks in and stops it from doing what I expected it to do, it can be more frightening than the actual controlled loss of traction. Sometimes you need that controlled loss of traction to balance the car during aggressive driving. Sometimes drifting through a corner is the fastest way through that corner, AH/TC doesn't like that.
I think better drivers may find it a hinderance to performance driving. On the other hand, less experienced drivers and drivers of all skill levels can benefit from the systems during poor weather/driving conditions.
I guess it has it strengths and weaknesses. All I can say is that I am glad it is switchable.
AZC5
P.S. My first vette did not have AH or TC, I learned how to drive hard without them. Maybe thats why I dont care for them too much.
I agree 100%. I could not have stated it better.